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KUALA LUMPUR, July 10: Hindraf is urging the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to intervene in the issue of SJK(T) Sungai Bakap which is in serious state of disrepair and needs a new building.

Penang Hindraf chief K. Kalayselvam told The Malaysian Times (TMT) that the movement has handed over a memorandum to the UN office in Damansara on Thursday.

He said that the memo was to complaint “a serious violation of fundamental human rights” on behalf of a community of plantation workers.

“This community of plantation workers, both past and present have resided in this area for over one hundred years.

He added that at least six generations of school children have been brought up in the little estate school SJK(T) Sungai Bakap.

“At this current location the school is housed in a small collapsing building by a dangerous traffic junction.

“The school is in a serious state of disrepair.

“The wooden building is infested with termites and some of the structure is actually hollow posing great danger to the children in the school,” he said.

There are a total of 200 students and 16 staff in the school, which has been established since 1948.

Kalayselvam said that the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the school board members has attempted over a number of years through a variety of local channels to have the problem addressed by the authorities and have the school relocated and a new building erected.

“All our efforts to get this done have only made us realise that we are of no priority to the Malaysian Government.

“We have little confidence left in any remaining recourse within the country to effectively address our problem.

“We turn to the United Nations and seek its intervention, hoping to motivate action out of exposing these commission to the international community.

He requested the United Nations Office of Human Rights to intervene in this situation and investigate the complaint.

“It is time that the international community take cognizance of the fact that the Malaysian Government is essentially racist, and create the necessary motivation for change,” he said.

It is learnt that in March 2013, the 67 year old school has been approved under Action Plan of the Future of Tamil schools under Prime Minister Office (PMO) to be relocated and a piece of land measuring 3.475 acres (1.40ha) has been identified to be the new site for the school, according to The Sun Daily.

RM3.5 million under the Special Stimulus Package 2013 also has been allocated for the project and upon completion the school shall be converted to a government school.